Tips for Restoring a Classic Car

Last week’s article focused on DIY car maintenance, but repairing a modern vehicle isn’t the only application for a lift in your home garage. They’re also commonly used for home restoration of classic cars. If you thinking about starting a project, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Know What You Want

Deciding which car you’d like to restore seems simple at first, but you should be as discerning as possible. You don’t want to choose one whose parts are too difficult or costly to get ahold of. If you have one in mind, remember that it’s a good idea to set a budget for yourself and choose your vehicle within those parameters. What about the restoration itself? Do you expect to simply make it drivable and address basic cosmetic issues or do you want to involve the help of a pro and bring it to street show level? Will you keep it authentic or add your own personal modernizations? Regardless, it’s wise to update safety features like seatbelts and airbags.

Preparation is Everything

A classic car restoration isn’t an effort to be taken lightly. It involves careful decision making, budgeting, research, time, and a lot of hard work. The process of setting your budget and choosing your vehicle should go hand-in-hand with compiling a comprehensive part list and finding out what tools and equipment you’ll need. Thorough research is your best friend here. The more diligently you plan and equip yourself, the less likely you’ll be to experience serious problems. That being said, you shouldn’t expect things to always go according to plan. There will be challenges, you’ll make mistakes, and then you’ll learn from them.

Make Things Easier

With a project like this, there’s no sense making the process more difficult for yourself. For instance, if you select a car whose body has accumulated an extreme amount of rust, don’t waste time trying to repair the rust damage. You’ll probably need to strip the chassis and replace these exterior sections. Don’t select a vehicle that won’t start if you’re not prepared to take on serious mechanical part replacements and repairs. Last but certainly not least, invest wisely in your tools and equipment. Installing a lift in your home garage will make the restoration process so much easier that you’ll never want to use a creeper again.

We believe in providing the best equipment to anyone who wants to capture its potential, professional mechanics and hobbyists alike. When you go with Lift King, you’re choosing a team that places value and customer service above all else. Call (403) 283-1020 today to get started.